By Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Israel on February 25 for a two-day visit that is expected to underline the growing strategic depth between New Delhi and Jerusalem. The trip, confirmed by sources on Monday, will include an address to the Israeli parliament — the Knesset — and high-level talks with Israeli leaders on defence, technology and trade cooperation.
The visit comes at a time when India-Israel ties are expanding beyond their traditional security framework into areas such as innovation, artificial intelligence and industrial collaboration. Officials familiar with the preparations described the trip as short in duration but potentially significant in diplomatic impact, particularly given the rapid pace of bilateral engagement over the past year.
News of the visit was first publicly mentioned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who referred to Modi’s upcoming arrival while addressing a gathering of Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. Netanyahu described India as a powerful and influential partner and emphasised the strength of the “alliance” between the two countries, hinting at discussions aimed at broadening cooperation.
While the final schedule is still being worked out, Modi’s address to the Knesset is expected to be a centrepiece of the visit. Diplomatic observers say the speech could highlight shared democratic values, counterterrorism cooperation and the growing convergence in technological ambitions. The Prime Minister is also likely to meet President Isaac Herzog and other senior officials during his stay.
This will mark Modi’s second visit to Israel. His landmark 2017 trip was the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister and signalled a decisive shift in New Delhi’s public engagement with the Jewish state. Since then, ties have grown steadily, with both sides institutionalising defence dialogues and accelerating economic partnerships.
In 2025 alone, a series of ministerial exchanges reinforced the upward trajectory. Israeli ministers handling tourism, economy, agriculture and finance visited India as both governments worked toward formalising a Free Trade Agreement. During that period, the two countries signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty and agreed on Terms of Reference to negotiate the FTA, indicating momentum toward deeper economic integration.
Defence cooperation remains a cornerstone of the partnership. In November last year, India and Israel concluded a landmark agreement aimed at enhancing joint development and co-production of advanced defence technologies. The annual Joint Working Group meeting in Tel Aviv brought together senior defence officials to review collaboration in research, development and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cyber security.
Officials on both sides have repeatedly stressed that their strategic dialogue is anchored in mutual trust and shared security concerns, particularly in counterterrorism efforts. Beyond defence, cooperation is expanding into agriculture technology, water management, digital innovation and start-up ecosystems — sectors where Israeli expertise and India’s scale are seen as complementary.
Modi’s upcoming visit is expected to consolidate these strands into a broader strategic narrative. Analysts note that in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape, both India and Israel are seeking diversified partnerships that blend security collaboration with economic resilience and technological leadership.
Though brief, the February 25–26 visit is likely to reaffirm the political will at the highest level to deepen ties. As India strengthens its global diplomatic footprint and Israel recalibrates its regional and international engagements, the meeting between the two leaders could set the tone for the next phase of an already robust partnership.
